The Ashes: Banter, bursts 'n' bloomin' exciting television

Four years ago I was working for the International Cricket Council (ICC) in our old office at Lord's and took the privilege of nipping into the Long Room to sample the atmosphere as the England team and Australian openers walked through on their way to the field on the first day of the 2005 Ashes. The sense of occasion was immense and the experience is etched in my memory. I watched a lot of that Test match live because I knew it would be my last chance to see cricket in my native England for some time; by the time the sides reconvened for the second Test, I had moved to our new headquarters in Dubai. There is something very special about the Ashes. I can't think of another two-team rivalry in sport that captivates so many people for such a long period of time. I'm a sports nut and can get absorbed watching pretty much any contest in any sport with a bit of context and rivalry but nothing compares to great Test series. For me the whole 2005 Ashes and already the first two Tests in this series have tied my stomach in knots for hours, even days, on end as the action ebbs and flows. The session in Cardiff was exhausting to watch and I'm sure my shoulders started to stoop as Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin progressed serenely through the final session on Day Four at Lord's. By the final morning of the second Test, I was actually glad a South African colleague had convened a meeting – little did I suspect it would mean I missed Andrew Flintoff's winning burst. The ICC is a very multi-cultural environment and – as well as the Anglo-Australian banter – the series has captured the imagination of many of our other staff. Given Australia only needs to draw the series to retain the Ashes, I think a one-nil lead for England sets up the remaining three matches nicely. Both sides are capable of winning the series and the first innings in the next Test at Edgbaston is going to be crucial. I watched the 2005 Ashes climax from Dubai, but I'm planning to be back in the north of England visiting family at the same time as the final Test match this time around. I may need to convince them of an urgent five-day trip to south London. - Jon Long is Manager of Member Services and Corporate Affairs at the ICC. (Unfortunately he is not able to get you tickets for the remaining Ashes Test matches.) Keep up with the latest business news from the region with the Emirates Business 24|7 daily newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here .